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|style="vertical-align:middle;"|This document is about the person Daniel. For the related biblical text, please refer to Daniel (Bible). This document is about Daniel. For other homonyms, please refer to the Daniel (son of David) document. 
Daniel was a person from the tribe of Judah and was one of those taken to the Babylonian kingdom after the kingdom of Judah was destroyed by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. ### During the Babylonian Empire
Daniel 1:1The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.Daniel 1:2The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles;Daniel 1:3youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.Daniel 1:4The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the king.Daniel 1:5Now among these were of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.Daniel 1:6The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Daniel 1:8Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.Daniel 1:9The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”Daniel 1:10Then Daniel) said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:Daniel 1:11“Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.Daniel 1:12Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s dainties; and as you see, deal with your servants.”Daniel 1:13So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.Daniel 1:14At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king’s dainties.Daniel 1:15So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they would drink, and gave them vegetables.Daniel 1:16Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
다니엘 2장 참고
다니엘 3장참고
이후, 벨사살왕이 즉위하였을 때에, 연회장에 갑자기 손가락이 나타나 벽에 글씨를 쓰는 사건이 발생하고 다니엘은 이를 해석해준다.
그날 밤에 벨사살왕이 죽고 바벨론 제국은 메대제국 다리오 왕에 의해 멸망하게 된다.
다니엘은 벨사살왕 시절에 환상을 보고 이를 기록하는데 그 내용이 다니엘 7장과 다니엘 8장이다.
다니엘은 다리오왕에 의해 발탁되어 메대 제국의 신하가 되었는데, 다른 신하들의 시기와 질투를 받게 된다. 그럼에도 다니엘의 능력이 탁월하였고, 아무런 흠을 찾을 수가 없었기에 신하들은 왕 외에 다른 신에게 기도하거나 절하지 못하게 하는 조서를 반포하게 한다.
이 시기에 다니엘은 예루살렘이 황폐함과 회복에 대한 하나님의 약속을 깨닫게 되고 이를 위해 기도하게 되는데, 그 내용이 다니엘 9장이다.
이후 메대 제국은 바사 제국 고레스에 의해 멸망하게 되고, 다니엘은 고레스 왕을 섬기게 된다.